William m



W. M. ERWIN AND W. F. STRETCH.

AUTOMOBILE RADIATOR CAP.

APPLICATION FILED DEC.30, 1920.

1,389,495. Patente Aug- 30, 1921.

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9518 W5 WW UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

W I. mm AND WILLIAM E. STRETCH, OF I-LANFORD, CALIFORNIA.

AUTOMOBILE-RADIATOR CAP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patent-ed Aug. 30, 1921.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, WILLIAM M. ERWIN and WILLIAM F. STRETCH, citizens of the United States, residing at Hanford, in the county of Kings and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in an Automobile-Radiator Cap, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to caps for automobile radiators and the like.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a hinged ca of this character which may be readil applied to the necks of various standard orms of radiators without necessitating any change bein made in the neck, the ca ordinarily emp oyed being unscrewed and the cap constituting this invention substituted.

Another object is to provide such a cap so constructed as to eliminate the necessity of unscrewing and removing the cap for filling the radiator and the annoyance consequent to finding the thread when replacing the cap thereby reatl facilitati the operation and avoi ing burning of time fingers when the radiator is hot.

Another object is to provide a cap having a hinged closure equipped with a positive clam to hold the closure tightl seated without t e use of sprin and whic closure cannot be jarred loose y vibration.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in certain novel features of construction as hereinafter shown and described, and specifically pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 re resents aside elevation of the ca constituting this invention shown applied, the neck of the radiator filling opening being shown in section.

Fig. 2 is a central vertical section of a cap; and

Pi 3 is a similar View with the two parts constituting the cap shown arranged in juxtaposition ready for assembling.

The ca C constituting this invention comprises a s eeve or collar 1, a portion of which is externall threaded as shown at 2 and adapted to screwed into the mouth M of the radiator neck N (see 1). This sleeve 1 carries a laterally extending flange 4 near its upper end provided on its perimeter with an n standing lip 5 forming between it and t e top edge 3 of the sleeve an annular seat 6 to receive a gasket 7. The lip 5 extends in a plane beyond the sleeve edge 3 and is designed to fit in a groove 11 in the hinged lid or closure member 10 of the cap C. The inner Wall of the groove 11 of lid 10 constitutes the outer face of a rib 12 which is deslgned to rest on the gasket 7 and effect a watertight joint between lid 10 and the sleeve.

The sleeve 1 has a pair of laterally spaced apertured ears 8 at one side of the outer face of flange 4 and is designed to receive between them a similar ear or lug 13 connected therewith by a pintle to form the hinge for lid 10.

A nose 14 carried by lug 13 is designed to engage sleeve 1 and form a stop to limit the opening movement of lid 10.

The lid 10 has a latch 15 pivoted thereto preferably at a point diametrically opposite the lug 13 and which is adapted to engage a catch 9 carried by the sleeve flange 4 at a point diametrically opposite the hinge member 8 thereof, said latch 15 having a hook 16 which engages catch 9 and locks the lid closed until released. This catch 9 has an enlargement 17 which operates when the latch is closed to throw said latch ofi' center and prevent its release by jars or vibrations.

In the use of this cap the threaded sleeve 1 is inserted in the radiator neck end as shown in Fig. 1 and when it is desired to fill the radiator all that is necessary is to release latch 15 and open the hinged closure member 10, the stop 14 operating to hold the lid ralsed ready for closing after the radiator has been filled. The rib 12 bearing on the gasket 7 and the interlocking engagement of lip 5 with groove 11 operates to insure a watertight connection between the sleeve and its closure.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is disclosed in the drawings and set forth in the specification, but it will be understood that any modifications within the scope of the claimed invention may be made in the construction without departing from the principle of the invention or sacrificing an of its advantages.

hat we claim is:

An automobile radiator cap comprising a threaded sleeve for engagement with the radiator neck, and having a flange L-shaped in cross section on its outer face below its upper edge, the long arm of said flange upstanding and being concentric with said edge and extending in a plane above it, a gasket seat being formed between said edge and said nular groove to receive the upstanding edge 01": said sleeve and a rib to fit in said gasket seat, said lid and sleeve being hingedly connected and the sleeve provided with a cam catch and the lid with a cooperating hook shaped latch whereby the latch is thrown off center When engaged with said catch vent its accidental release.

to pre- In testimony whereof, we affix our signatures hereto.

WILLIAM M. ERWIN. WILLIAM F. STRETCH. 

